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It's been a gruelling morning.

You don't comb through , I can tell you.

But the latest claims for our politicians' second homes have thrown up some interesting details.

I'm sure must be cosy at night on his Siberian Goose Down pillows that he claimed on expenses.

Particularly after dining on the mini quiches in the tins he also claimed.

I'd guess they were perfect thanks to the precise measurements offered by the Nigella Lawson measuring spoon set he also got via the expenses system.

Mind you at least he's made sure he'll be woken promptly from his slumbers as he bought and claimed two clock radios within five months.

Some of the biggest value claims came from Harrogate and Knaresborough's Lib Dem .

2008/9 saw quite a refurbishment of his second home in London.

He claimed more than £6,000 to refurbish his kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

And put in a claim for £3,967.50 to refurbish his bathroom in his second London home.

It was queried by the Fees Office, who wanted some more details but they do seem to have paid up.

All three of these MPs are retiring at the next election.

Here's a more list of some of what I've gleaned so far with the qualification that I've not as yet raised these claims with the MPs involved.

None of the claims paid broke any rules at the time, though many would be disallowed under the expenses regime now:

Phil Willis, Lib Dem, Harrogate and Knaresborough - In 2008/9 claimed £1188.65 for new bathroom suite (In a letter to the Fees Office he says it's a modest invoice because he bought the cheapest products), £3999.73 on a new kitchen, and £1107 on bed and bedroom furniture for his second home in London.

Alan Milburn, Labour, Darlington - one claim of £760 on John Lewis goods including a King Size duck down duvet, four Siberian goose feather pillows, 12 lacquered placemats, 12 lacquered coasters, four mini quiche tins, six Nigella Lawson measuring spoons, and a DAB Clock radio. (Just five months earlier he'd claimed for another clock radio worth £49.50).

, Labour, Middlesbrough S and E Cleveland - claimed £5,793 in hotel bills between April and June 2008 on top of mortgage claims.

, Labour, Newcastle North - claimed £731.50 in John Lewis goods for the kitchen, followed by a claim for £246 for sheets, £584 for bedspreads and pillows and £397 for a bedroom chest, and £168.75 for an iron and hoover.

, Labour, Blyth, claimed £1,250 for a new shower, but had a claim for shaving gel and a £9.99 Cabernet Sauvignon wine box rejected.

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